Polaris 500 utility quad

[Jim]

anyone have/had one, or know anything about them?

friend of mine saw one for sale and is thinking of picking it up.

any known mechanical issues with them, or suggested upgrades?

[Sheppo]

anyone have/had one, or know anything about them?

friend of mine saw one for sale and is thinking of picking it up.

any known mechanical issues with them, or suggested upgrades?

Jim,
what year? The earlier (2000ish) were known for eating back brakes. They have virtually no engine braking. You can't lock the front differential, when you put it into 4wd the hubs wont lock until you get wheel spin, sometimes thats OK sometimes your fucked at that point. The hubs lock in electronically with magnets. Watch out if they have been worked on sometimes the wheels lock in at different speeds and again 3 wheel drive isn't 4 wheel drive and you could be fucked. ( fucked = stuck ). Engines are usually bullet proof, Great ground clearance, First in rear independent suspension. If you want to know more PM me.

Doug

[Stoneman]

Weak A-arms & CV's, bad brakes, overheating issues, problems with the automatic clutches on the CVT's, just to name a few. Supposedly, these issues were fixed with SOME of the new '09 models. I would NEVER buy a Polaris ATV, never I say...

Seriously. Just about any group ride I go on, regardless of the type of ride it is, we can almost always count on a Poo-Poo breaking down with wunna the above mentioned problems...

[Jim]

i dont have the exact year or model #. said he saw it at Brockton Cycles for $3k. was thinking of putting a plow on it for his driveway during the winter.

i've only heard good things about the polaris sleds, but i figured you guys would have better feedback. Doug & Jay, thanks

[Sheppo]

Weak A-arms & CV's, bad brakes, overheating issues, problems with the automatic clutches on the CVT's, just to name a few. Supposedly, these issues were fixed with SOME of the new '09 models. I would NEVER buy a Polaris ATV, never I say...

Seriously. Just about any group ride I go on, regardless of the type of ride it is, we can almost always count on a Poo-Poo breaking down with wunna the above mentioned problems...

mine never overheated LOL the rest is true.

Buy a Yammie

[Stoneman]

Hey Jim-

These are the first reviews I found when Googling. Most of it negative...

Polaris Sportsman 400/500/600/700 Reviews on RateItAll

[Jim]

with reliability like that, you'd think Harley made the Polaris quads

[Stoneman]

with reliability like that, you'd think Harley made the Polaris quads

Holy fuck! We call 'em the Harleys of quads. No shit!

[Sheppo]

with reliability like that, you'd think Harley made the Polaris quads

HEY HEY HEY no Harley Haters

[Sheppo]

I rode the new Yamaha 550 Grizzly with Fuel Injection and EPS. I loved it. Best quad I have ever ridden!!! The engine braking was top notch, the 4 wheel drive was awesome, great ground clearance and the power steering was the tits. I rode it at Clough all day.

[mikeb]

Holy fuck! We call 'em the Harleys of quads. No shit!

i've been calling them that for years. same type of people ride both. blind allegence to an inferior product.

[gregp]

I have heard all of the negative things that have been posted here. In all of my research (and I have done quite a bit) the Bombardier Outlander series comes out on top, but if are willing to spend the cash for a new one, I would stay Japanese. The Hondas still have a reputation for reliability, but they have been slow to move on Independant Rear Suspension, and getting disc Brakes on their utility quads. Yamaha has done well in regards to these pursuits. Suzuki has some nice models as does Kawasaki, but they both seem to fall in the middle of the rankings most of the time.
If you just want to plow snow with the thing, even the older Honda solid axle models are fine, but I would want a big engine. I had an (87?) older TRX350 that was a real work horse, but it had a solid front and rear axle, so the ride on the trail was not cushy at all, but I rarely got stuck with it.
With any 4wd quad that is taken in the woods, a winch is a must, especially if you are riding alone! You can not pull these things out like you can a dirtbike.
I have seen the ads for the new yamaha's with power steering, and I thought that it was taking things a bit too far, but I have had the bars yanked right out of my hands before, so I guess that I can see where it would be really nice...
One other thing, I have seen some of the big, tall "Agro" wheels/tires and I have spoken to some folks who have installed them. The concensous is that they offer remarkable traction and ground clearance, but they accelerate wear on your drive train and are actually difficult to ride with because they tend to pull the quad in and out of ruts constantly.

[R7]

There's a reason they call them Pooplaris

[Jim]

well this info helped my friend, so he wont make the mistake some of you have done. thanks

[Degsy]

Jim, what's your friend's budget? My friend is selling an 07 yamaha something-or-other. I know it has power steering.

want me to get details?

[Jim]

Jim, what's your friend's budget? My friend is selling an 07 yamaha something-or-other. I know it has power steering.

want me to get details?

it's weman. and i think he was thinking under $3k, so that's probably low balling that yami

[R7]

Jim, what's your friend's budget? My friend is selling an 07 yamaha something-or-other. I know it has power steering.

want me to get details?

I think the Grizzly 700 is the yammy with power steering, same basic EFI motor as the Rappy 700...which is an amazing power plant

[Stoneman]

Summa the new 'middleweights' are being made with power steering now too, btw...

[Jim]

Summa the new 'middleweights' are being made with power steering now too, btw...

btw, i'm waiting for an invite to come ride those quads in the snow over the winter

[Sheppo]

Summa the new 'middleweights' are being made with power steering now too, btw...

I test drove the Yamaha Grizzly 550 with EPS in Clough it was the best ATV I'd ever ridden!

[1/2pint]

thanks for all the ifo.

i am still looking around

with the baby on the way the hd will not be used so i am thinking of using it as a trade for a used 4x4